If you’re applying to the BardBac and you’ve been to college at any time in the past, follow these three steps. (If you’ve never been to college before, reach out to [email protected] for help navigating the Common Application for First-Year Students.)
1. Application
Complete and submit the BardBac Application Form. In addition to basic information, the application asks you to do some writing about your educational history, your intellectual ambitions, and why you’re interested in studying at Bard, specifically. The application is only live from December 1 through March 1 every year.
2. Letters of Recommendation
All applicants to the BardBac need to get two letters of recommendation. These letters can come from anyone who knows you well and can speak to your ambitions and interests — they don’t have to be from professors or teachers. Colleagues, mentors, current or former employers, or collaborators on community projects can all make good recommenders for BardBac applicants. You’ll include your recommenders’ contact information in your application, and Bard will reach out to them directly for letters. Be sure to tell your recommenders that you’re including them as a reference. If your recommenders have any trouble with the process, they can send letters directly to [email protected]. Letters of recommendation can be sent anytime between December 1 and March 1 every year.
3. Financial Aid Documents
Finally, complete the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and the CSS Profile, two financial aid forms that make it possible for the college to offer you financial aid if you’re accepted. The FAFSA form is free to submit; the CSS Profile waives its application fee for applicants who make less than $100,000 a year (if you fall into this category, you’ll be notified about your waiver eligibility as you complete the CSS Profile, based on the information you enter into the form itself).
Everything is due March 1 if you’re applying for the Fall semester.
Finalists will be contacted for an interview via Zoom.
Join us on Zoom for an Information Session about the Bard Baccalaureate!
BardBac Staff will share information about the scholarship, life as a BardBac student, and the admissions process. Then you’ll have time to ask questions.
BardBac Info Sessions will be held:
- Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
- Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM
RSVP here to receive the Zoom link.
Interested in learning more about the Bard Baccalaureate?
Sign up for our mailing list to learn about upcoming Info Sessions. Or reach out to [email protected] to set up a one-on-one conversation with BardBac staff to get your questions answered.